Running vent

freebread03 · February 2013

I'm so fired up right now and have to vent somewhere...I'm sure other runners will feel my pain. I run most nights, and during the winter months, it's usually dark for the entirety of my run. So, I wear a head lamp or reflective vest, or both. This winter, I've nearly been hit by a cars at least 5 times. I live in the city, so there's always traffic and I can't avoid busy intersections. Twice in the past week I nearly got hit, both times in crosswalks where I had the walk. One woman was turning right, looking left for oncoming traffic, and went straight though the red, nearly hitting me. I threw my arms up and said "whoa, red light means stop!" And she proceeded to yell at me. Tonight, I stepped into the crosswalk (it had just turned) and a woman in a pickup truck rolls into the crosswalk, but she stopped and wasn't going to hit me. I finish crossing and she rolls down her window and starts yelling at me, that she saw me, but if I step out and she hits me, it's on me. I yelled back that she didn't hit me, I was in a crosswalk, and that I didn't know what her problem was. She yelled more, I yelled back, and, I wish I hadn't, but I called her a dumb b!tch. I need to control my temper but wow, I was so mad that she was yelling at me and blaming me because she didn't want to stop for the red.

Last week, I almost got beat up by a group of teenagers-as I was running by, one boy says"can I run with you" and I ignored and kept running. Sohe yells, "well eff you then." I stopped and turned around and said "did you say something that you'd like to say to my face." The group started yelling at me eff you this eff you that, so I left. I rounded the corner and I hear people Yelling and it turns out they followed me and were coming after me. Against common sense, I held my ground, and it ended up with the original yeller apologizing to ME and us having a talk about "if you act a certain way, people will judge you accordingly, so don't give them something to judge."

I think my vent is over, and I'm now calmed down. I need to just let this stuff roll off me and let crazy people be crazy people, but its just so infuriating when people act like its my fault they can't drive. And I wish people wouldn't harass runners with nasty comments.

Lobsters25 · February 2013

oh my word freebird. I'm just so glad you're okay! eff all of those people, and I think you have well earned a glass of wine!

freebread03 · February 2013

Wine was the first thing I went for when I walked in the door! I need to be less aggressive-it makes me just as bad as the crazies out there.

Lobsters25 · February 2013

Yeah, but those people sound wack. Anger and aggression are never good (and, admittedly, neither is crossing when the light turns) but I really can't blame you. Just take a deep breath and forget about them tonight - they're gone now and aren't worthy of your time or stress.

Hope the rest of your weekend is much better!

Giaspo · February 2013

This is so frustrating and I'm sorry it happened to you. It happens more than people realize. You can take every precaution yet you can't control other people. Last year H's friend's wife was running in her town. It was daylight and she was running safely on the sidewalk. As she crossed the street a police car sped around the corner and hit her. One arm was broken twice and her other arm, collar bone and ribs were broken. She was a mess. The worst part of it all was that in the "official" report, the policeman said it was "carelessness of the runner" who was "wearing a headset and not paying attention to traffic" which was totally untrue! I hope you are feeling better!

unchatenfrance · February 2013

Yeah you gotta be careful. I was hit by a pick-up truck that sped into a left turn while I was crossing the street on a green light. I was was miraculously unhurt but I am so scared about crossing the street now. I definitely never jaywalk anymore and when crossing I always make sure to make eye contact with a driver that's trying to turn to make sure they do see me.

Stay safe!

freebread03 · February 2013

Thanks ladies-luckily I'm super careful (out of habit and years of close calls), so I never expect anyone to stop, even if I have the walk. Probably why I haven't actually been hit in years. People just drive me nuts, and with adrenaline pumping from the run....

AdeleDazeem · February 2013

Where do you live, Freebread? I can totally see this stuff happening in the city I live in, which is why I only run on the path down by the river. But then, I have to dodge bicylists, rollerbladers, and skateboarders. I witnessed a bad collision between a runner and a biker one day on a blind turn. Scary!

Sarah5200 · February 2013

Idiots! People are such idiots!

I was out running last summer with my FMIL and we were almost hit by a truck while crossing the road. The drivers had a stop sign, other people had also stopped so we could cross (it was a corner where there's no crosswalk, but there aren't any crosswalks around.. its a place that makes sense to cross). Anyway, this one truck just comes roaring up past the stop line and *luckily* I was watching him so that we could stop crossing to avoid being hit - he was texting!!! (which btw is illegal here - not allowed to text or talk while driving). I was so mad. He was apologetic, but I was still pissed off. I gestured clearly to take the phone and put it down.. and then threw my hands up in the air and continued jogging. But seriously people. Fights between cars and people just don't usually end well! PAY ATTENTION! Ugh.

Glad you weren't hurt!

freebread03 · February 2013

I live in DC-right next to a metro stop, so there's a lot of traffic around my condo. Being in the city, there's traffic everywhere regardless of where I run. I often run in rock creek park on weekends (my chosen long run route) but I can't do that during the week in the winter because its dark (I can do the trails in the summer). There's another path near my house, but I can't run there in the winter either because its too dark. Just dangers of city running I guess!

entropicbeauty · February 2013

Do these people not realize that pedestrian's (including runners) have the right of way? They will be found at fault if they hit you! (Unless of course it's a cop...that's some BS!)

freebread03 · February 2013

That's what was so funny about my encounter the other night-she kept yelling at me that if I saw her, and stepped out into the crosswalk on walk anyways and she hit me, then it would be my fault. Uhh actually, it's your fault if you hit me when you have a red light (still would be my ignorance if I got hit when I knew she wasn't going to stop, but the point is, she didn't hit me because I saw her and avoided her).

People are just totally nutty-I got honked at yesterday running because I was in the road because there was a part of the path that was SO narrow that only one person could get by, and there was a jam of bikes and people and I was trying to NOT get hit by the bike (the car was no where near hitting me-they were just mad that I was on the side of the road and not on the super narrow path in the clusterf*ck of bikes).

gershpjp · February 2013

drivers are very inconsiderate of pedestrians. i am a runner so i understand your frustrations. this is why i don't run outside where i live. i tried to a few times and had cars come too close to me at just about every intersection. i allow walkers and runners to rule the road because i understand what its like. everyone is always in a hurry and have no patience. i stick to the treadmill, but i am an early morning runner and i prefer to run indoors, i just don't feel safe running outside. i only run outside for races and when i am down the jersey shore where the drivers are more considerate because there are lots of stop signs, slow speed restrictions and a more laid back vibe. stay staff! consider trying to run with a group too!

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